糖心视频logo

糖心视频logo graduate听Valerie听David听has done a lot. From writing her own material to working in the New York theatre scene and to beating cancer (more than once!), her life and work continue to work in tandem as they fuel one another.听The Pink Hulk, a story about beating cancer and "finding the superhero within," has given cancer survivors and their families solace and comfort, all while taking听David听all over the world. Most recently, her knack for storytelling has brought her all the way to Sweden, performing another one-woman show,听Baggage from BaghDAD, for an audience of eager Norse folk. Her accolades include an Audience Choice Award and the Swedish WOW Award for听The Pink Hulk.听Our听conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

听

Could you tell me a bit about what things were like for you post-graduation?听

Sure, I think post-graduation, there's that excitement to go out into the world and apply your craft. I was so excited to do it and start auditioning. And the other thing is to keep up your skills鈥攜ou must keep up your skills. I took improv classes and so it was just it was a wonderful experience, and The 糖心视频logo really prepared me to go out into the real world.听

But my trajectory changed a little bit because about a year and a half after I graduated from听The 糖心视频logo, I had been diagnosed with cancer. So that kind of put me a little bit on a hiatus. But then, as soon as that was over, I went back to acting, until I had gotten cancer again 15 years later鈥�I was in the original reading for the musical听Urinetown,听which ended up being on Broadway. But I kicked cancer to the curb, and then there was the birth of听Pink Hulk, my one-woman show. So I know in a strange way that cancer had opened up a world for me. I鈥檝e since taken听Pink Hulk听all over the world, and I had no idea how much it could affect audiences and help cancer survivors, cancer patients, their loved ones, and caregivers.

听

What was the process like for creating a one-woman show?

I think for me, it almost became like an obsession to write. I started writing, and in less than five months, it was a full-on production. I think having had cancer鈥�well, that will really light a fire underneath you. I was just like, 鈥淚鈥檓 getting this done now.鈥� And now, having it done, I can do it anywhere. I've done it in an art gallery, I鈥檝e done it in the basement of my sister's home for a bunch of her friends, I've done it in a 700-seat house and a 2,000-seat house. So I think that the process is to write badly...like just听write, and you never know what things will stick. Surround yourself with really supportive people and a really great team...then there's nothing you can鈥檛 do. You can鈥檛 be an island, and I鈥檓 so grateful for all the support I鈥檝e received.

The motivating factor with听Baggage from BaghDAD听was to honor my father and his legacy of having to flee Iraq in 1941 from religious persecution. It's an important story, not only because it honors my father but because it's a universal story and one that should not be repeated. And it's a reminder of that.听

听

Do听you have听a mantra that听fuels you to keep doing this work?

Never, ever give up hope. And that鈥檚 the last line of听Pink Hulk. You must appreciate what you have. And I think that鈥檚 something that often gets lost, gratitude. This whole journey of being an actor has taught me grace and gratitude, and humility. I've been blessed with so many awards and accolades, and even my most recent show,听Baggage from BaghDAD鈥�August, I went to Sweden to do that show! I was rehearsing the show, and I was having a really difficult time with it because I couldn't get through it without crying. And I contacted one of my actor friends, and I was like, I don't know how I'm gonna get through this, and he said to me, 鈥淵ou've got a pact with the audience; this is what you are to do. The most vulnerable you'll ever be is onstage, and I know how hard it can be. However, you have to keep going. Go on this journey with them; take them with you.鈥�

I honestly was so close to bailing out because of my fear. But if you have faith in yourself and you surround yourself with people who believe in you and help you along the way, you鈥檙e set鈥�because it takes a village. And I have a pretty awesome village. I'm so excited that I now have more performances for this and the听Pink Hulk. And I now have two solo shows that I'm so proud of. You must keep going, no matter what, no matter how hard it gets. You must keep going.听

听

That鈥檚 a great lesson and one that I really resonate with. Being well-rounded and living your life听fully听is so important. 听

Do you know about the tortoise and the hare? I am definitely the tortoise, and I am so glad I am! I think life is more meaningful when you're the tortoise and when you have obstacles and challenges to overcome. That's a better way for me to live. If I just jump into something and don鈥檛 have the blood, sweat, and tears that are required in life, it won鈥檛 be as rich. We're all going to have bumps along the way. It's not just the acting career that's going to have disappointments; life has disappointments, too, and without those disappointments, how can we move forward and learn? I think the tortoise gets the听harder path, but it also gets the better path.

听

It鈥檚 the obstacles that make your inner life rich.

Exactly, exactly. You hit the nail on the head. So much of what I draw on is from my experience, right? So much of it is about listening and being attuned. You have to be in the moment in life and in your acting work. When I see听a show, did I believe it? Did I buy it? If not, why?

It takes me three hours to prepare for a show. And I learned from The 糖心视频logo the importance of building a show, and a character, from the ground up, starting at my feet. That's our medium, our bodies. So we have to work that way. I think that's one of the implied things in drama school, but they don't really come out and say it to you.

听

Well said. Now, what鈥檚 next for you?

I'm doing听Baggage from BaghDAD听in December in Vermont and then bringing it out to LA before taking it overseas again. And then I'm gonna bring the show to New York. I like to take it out and then bring it when it's completely ready. I will also have an artist residency in Minnesota at some point鈥�but we鈥檙e working out the kinks for that.听

听

Thank you for taking the time to be so open and vulnerable with me today.听

Oh my god. You know, you're my first crying interview. I was like, 鈥淥h, shoot, here it comes!鈥� But yeah, let it go and allow it to come, right? And that's, that's what I was dealing with in Sweden. And, you know, my angel was like, go with it. If you start crying on stage, don鈥檛 apologize for it; keep going!

听

Take care,听Valerie. And be well!

You too, August. Thank you.